A cancer nurse has received a prestigious award for her work with teenagers.

Sam Smith, from Higher Poynton, recognised that teenagers and young adults with cancer need a unique kind of support after she was diagnosed with the disease herself when she was 20.

And after dedicating her career to introducing teenage cancer care as a specialism for nurses, she has been awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award from the European Oncology Nursing Society.

Sam, 49, who is mum to Thomas and Charles, said: “I was diagnosed with cancer when I was 20 and that experience of being in adult services as a young person made me go into paediatric nursing. Life is complicated enough when you’re a teenager and to get cancer when you’re in the prime of your life, you face a very different challenge.

“Being treated alongside adults and by general nurses was often worse than the treatment.

“Young people need a different approach as they have very different needs and the experience sparked a keen interest in oncology and gave me a powerful motivation to improve standards of care for young people.”

Sam, who has also been receiving treatment for breast cancer this year, said: “It was a total surprise. I was just sat in the audience at the big council congress and they called my name. I’m proud, it’s a big achievement for nursing.”

Former Poynton High School student Sam, who is a head of nursing and support at the Teenage Cancer Trust, added: “This award is much bigger than me, it means that teenage and young adult cancer nursing as a specialism that we’ve fought to develop is recognised at that international level, which is very important.”

Sam’s mum Anita Smith said she is over the moon with Sam’s achievements. She said: “Sam was treated in an adult ward and that’s what made her determined to get nurses especially for those youngsters.

“It was awful for her, but she’s turned it into something incredibly positive. I’m very proud of her.”

Simon Fuller, Teenage Cancer Trust director of services, said: “This award is a testament to Sam’s commitment to young people with cancer and her passion for nursing.

“We are incredibly proud of what Sam has achieved and pleased that her lifelong commitment to young people’s cancer nursing has been recognised in this way.”